. >>> vice president joe biden is in japan as part of a week-long asia trip. he'll also travel to china for talks over disputed air space. back to "hardball." >>> i've got to tell you, if it was not already invented, i would say this congress invented the word "do nothing congress." >> but considering what republicans in congress want to do, it is a great blessing that congress has done next to nothing. >> we all know that president harry truman dubbed the 80th congress as the do nothing congress. yet the doing in congress in 1948 has nothing on this one. >> unfortunately, republicans talk work for everyone else, but when it comes to doing the work here in congress, well, they don't quite measure up to it. >> welcome back to "hardball." do nothing is about right when it comes to the track record of this congress. it's not yet the least productive year in history, but close to it. to give you some historical context. when newt gingrich's republican revolution came to power in 1995, they managed to pass what was then a record low of 88 laws that year. in the fir